The factory, located in the Amata City Industrial Park in Rayong Province near the port city of Pattaya, opens with a first-phase annual capacity of 5 million tires, the company said earlier this year. Test production was scheduled to start in late May.

ZC Rubber, which goes to market with the Chaoyang, Goodride, Trazano and Westlake brands, did not disclose investment or employment details of the plant, which covers 6.1 million square feet and operates as ZC Rubber Thailand.

The company said opening a plant in Thailand reflects its strategic policy of “overseas production, overseas sales.” It also noted that Thailand accounts for 70 percent of global natural rubber production, which should reduce the effect of that the price change of rubber raw materials in the international market will have on ZC Rubber.

ZC Rubber said it has invited hundreds of distributors and customers from around the world to witness the ribbon-cutting.

The tire maker — which did not mention the pending import duties being levied by the U.S. on Chinese tire makers — was levied antidumping and countervailing duties of 89.77 and 30.87 percent, respectively, the highest levels.

ZC Rubber is represented in the U.S. by its ZC Rubber Americas Inc. in Norwalk, Calif. That company, which concentrates the firm's Arisun premium truck radial brand, has assigned rights to Westlake-brand car and light truck tires to Tireco Inc.

Letter

to the

Editor

Do you have an opinion about this story? Do you have some thoughts you'd like to share with our readers? Tire Business would love to hear from you. Email your letter to Editor Don Detore at [email protected].